Cllr Sheppard welcomes Organ donation register to become ‘opt-out’ under new proposed law

I am delighted to see the Opt-Out Organ donation legislation coming forward hopefully in the next month in Ireland.

Having received full support from Cork County Council on a motion I put forward over 12 months ago to write to the Minister of Health to roll out this system in Ireland it’s great to see it finally coming forward.

People who are viable organ donors after death will automatically be added to the register unless they choose to ‘opt-out’ under a new proposed law.

Minister for Health Simon Harris is planning on introducing new legislation which could see Ireland becoming an automatic organ donation country.

Family consent will be taken into account under the proposed change, which would mean next-of-kin could decide whether or not their loved one will be an organ donor, but only if they are not on the ‘opt out’ register.

This is a very important step for our county and for those who are on the organ waiting list and will hopefully go a long way to improve the times people will have to wait for Organ donation.